PM Encourages Sugar Farmers to Explore Cattle Farming

Prime Minister John Briceño says small sugar farmers should seriously consider branching out into other industries as challenges continue within Belize’s sugar sector.

His comments come after former Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, encouraged farmers with low profits to look at diversifying instead of depending only on sugar cane.

“We’ve been talking with cane farmers for decades about diversifying, that don’t put all your eggs in one industry, in sugar,” Briceño told reporters.

According to Briceño, one of the biggest opportunities right now is cattle farming, especially with growing export markets in both Mexico and Guatemala. He suggested that farmers with unused or less productive cane land could consider converting portions into pastureland for livestock.

“We can meet the demand,” Briceno said.

The Prime Minister also addressed questions surrounding Mai’s recent knee surgery.

He explained that doctors prioritized Mai’s knees before tackling his back condition. “The doctor said the first thing they need to do is the knee because he was walking sideways. So if you do anything with your back and you’re still walking sideways, you’re not doing anything.”

Asked about Mai’s return to cabinet, Briceño said the decision will be made later.